Should You Use Eco Mode for Your Air Conditioner?

Now that spring is just around the corner, summer can’t be far behind. What does this mean? It means that those hot temperatures are coming back.

Along with these hot temps, you could also see an increase in your monthly electric bills. However, there are a few things that you can do to save money on your utility expenses.

One of the steps you can take is save energy. Nowadays, air conditioners come with the option of eco mode. In this article, we’ll go over what eco mode does, is and if you should use it.

What is Eco Mode?

Eco mode or energy saver mode comes with most if not all the new air conditioner units. You’ll still have your other traditional features that usually come with an air conditioning unit, such as cool and fan.

However, eco mode is a new handy feature that can help you save electricity. It works in a similar way to central air AC.

When you put your AC unit to a particular temperature setting, it works to get to that temperature. Once the temps stabilize at this setting, the unit will turn off until it starts to get hot again.

In contrast, the cool setting on an AC unit does not turn off no matter how cold it gets. You have to turn it off manually.

Does Eco Mode in AC Save Electricity?

The big advantage of eco mode is of course energy savings. The way it saves energy is by utilizing the compressor at a lower setting. This is to help mitigate the pressure of the condenser.

You may experience a low cooling capacity, but it consumes less energy this way. You’ll still stay cool and comfortable by using the temperature setting. Your AC will run much more efficiently and can even increase its lifespan.

By using less energy and power, your AC won’t work as hard to cool the home. Therefore, you’ll need less repairs and spend less money as well.

Read Also: Is It Bad To Leave the Windows Open When the AC Is On

Eco Mode Works

Even if you live in an area where you experience hot temperatures, eco mode will still work to your advantage by minimizing the stress on your AC. You may not get your room to really cold temps like 60 or 65 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you may be able to keep your room at around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once the cool air turns off, the fan cycles about every 10 minutes for 20 seconds. It does this to take samples of the air temperature. Times could vary depending on different AC models.

Is Eco Mode for You?

Although the eco mode setting is convenient and can save you money on your electric bills, some prefer the cool setting. This setting works when you just can’t beat the heat and want to make your room really cold.

This can also be an option for anyone who lives in hot and humid weather. In this case, the air conditioning unit may never turn off in the eco mode setting.  

Your best option would be to leave it in the cool mode instead. Keep in mind that the AC fan will work continuously in the cool setting putting extra pressure on your compressor. In the end, it would all be preference. However, if you can stay cool with eco mode, you will save energy and keep your home comfortable.

With a lifelong fascination with HVAC mechanics and a mechanical engineering degree from Berkeley, Thomas Johnson boasts years of industry expertise. He founded AirComfortLab.com to fill the void of understandable and useful online information about complex HVAC systems. As the chief editor, Thomas strives to provide accurate and engaging content to help readers make informed HVAC decisions.

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